A Pastoral Prayer for September 11, 2012

God of grace and God of justice,

On this anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001

We remember that horrific day, a day filled with images that we cannot forget.

 

O God we confess our ongoing need of your emerging grace

For this date still provokes us,

            Its memory incites our anger,

And too easily our thoughts still trend toward vengeance.

 

As we attempt to apply your words to life,  

And to live by faith as we hold to your promise of a better future

We confess that our anger and grief from that fretful day are not nearly resolved

And that retaliatory impulses of vengeance and hate incubate deep within.

 

And yet we acknowledge that our hurt does not compare to the pain

of those who were touched more directly

through the unexpected and unfair loss

of family members, friends, and co-workers.

 

We shudder at the memory of atrocious images of death and destruction,

We fret over the ongoing armed conflict that seems to be unending,

We grieve over the deaths of the sons and daughters of our nation,

   as well as the subsequent and tragic casualties

   among our allies and our adversaries.

And we long for a civilized and lasting resolution

   So that our sons and daughters may return home safely and soon

   And that those who have longed for liberation from tyranny

            Might govern and be governed with civility and integrity.

 

Rather than being consumed by our grief,

            And controlled by fear

                       And contorted with anxiety,

    Let us set our minds to addressing the injustices that enflame hostility,

    Let us direct our souls to living out our moral conviction,

    Let us aim our hearts to loving the poor,

               and the disadvantaged,

                           and the disenfranchised.

   And let us determine to fight terror,

   Not with our own terroristic threats,

   But with a responsible and courageous exercise of freedom,

   And with a proactive and authentic faith.

 

And though it swims against the current of our deepest instincts,

You continue to teach us to love our enemies,

so that we do not become like them.

 

Today, especially today, we pray for first responders,

             those who answered the call on that day,

                        and those who continue to respond when crises arise:

For emergency medical personnel,

             for firefighters,

                        and for law enforcement officers.

We pray for their safety,

            we are thankful for their service

                         and we are indebted for their sacrifice.

 

Today, especially today, we pray for the leaders of our nation and our world

            For the leaders of our state and our community

To act and react with wisdom and discernment,

           And to maintain a disposition that will defuse conflict

                        and promote reconciliation.

And we pray for the leaders of our churches and synagogues

            And for people of diverse faiths

  To act and react with transformative grace and eternal hope,

           To discern truth from propaganda,

                         And to advance the cause of peace.

 

Forgive us our sins,

            As we strive, yet again, to forgive those who sinned against us.

 

We offer our prayer according to the One who came to introduce real peace on earth and goodwill to all humankind.  Amen